UK registered cryptocurrency exchanges

Discover which cryptocurrency exchanges are on the UK cryptoasset register.

Best FCA registered exchanges See list of exchanges
Commonly asked questions See FAQs
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We’ve collected together our best picks for cryptocurrency exchanges that are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. We’ve extensively reviewed them on aspects such as user experience, fees, payment methods and selection of coins to give you a head start in picking the right one for you.

What are the current rules on crypto in the UK

Cryptocurrency is unregulated in the UK. This means that it doesn’t fall under the regulations and laws set by the FCA. If you invest in cryptocurrency, there’s very little protection and high levels of risk. While there are plans to regulate crypto in the UK, this won’t be happening anytime soon.

As it stands, the current rules are that businesses “carrying on cryptoasset activity in the UK” need to register with the FCA to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) laws. Below you’ll find a list of cryptocurrency exchanges that have done just that.

The other major rule is that the FCA has banned the sale of crypto-derivatives to retail customers.

Best crypto exchanges that are FCA registered

1. Kraken: Best crypto exchange (overall)

Kraken
Go to site Read review
Capital at risk

Kraken

3.8★★★★★
Finder score
230+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

Kraken is one of the longest-running platforms in the industry and has maintained its legacy by constantly improving its services. It is the 2023 Finder Award winner for Best Exchange Overall thanks to its broad range of features and quality service.

You can start building a cryptocurrency portfolio today from 200+ supported coins. Kraken is popular with over 9 million users and exceeds a daily trading volume of just over US$650 million, which makes it one of the world's largest exchanges. But for overall features and trading tools, Kraken blows everyone out of the water. It is clearly made for traders but it doesn't leave novices behind either.

Kraken has a broad range of advanced trading features. It prides itself on offering low spreads and providing deep liquidity across markets so you don't need to worry as much about slippage. This helped Kraken secure another Finder Award for Advanced Trading.

While new traders may feel daunted by the exchange at first, the large variety of guides can help anyone become knowledgeable about cryptocurrency, its underlying technology and the different forms of trading. Meanwhile, more experienced traders will appreciate Kraken's high-quality system and easy-to-use user interface (UI). They will be pleasantly surprised by how straightforward it is to trade, move crypto and manage assets. Kraken markets interface

Pros
  • 200+ supported coins
  • Launched in 2013, one of the longest-running crypto exchanges
  • Low fees for active traders
  • Earn yield through staking
  • High-quality educational guides and tools
  • Registered as a crypto asset firm with the UK FCA as Payward Ltd
Cons
  • Some trading features unavailable to UK users
  • High fees for credit and debit card purchases
  • No crypto debit card available for spending, unlike some alternatives
Deposit methods Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, Faster Payments (FPS), Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT
Deposit fees Cash: Free up to £21 depending on method of deposit
Cryptocurrency: Mostly free but requires a minimum balance to deposit
Withdrawal fees Cash: Free up to £35 depending on method of withdrawal (min. withdrawal £1)
Cryptocurrency: Minimum withdrawal requirement and flat-rate withdrawal fee that varies for each cryptocurrency
Trading fees 0%-0.4% plus spread
Advanced Trading Features Yes

2. CoinJar: Best exchange for value

CoinJar Cryptocurrency Exchange
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Capital at risk

CoinJar Cryptocurrency Exchange

4.4★★★★★
Finder score
60+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

CoinJar is hard to beat when it comes to value, which is why it's our pick for best-value exchange. There are no deposit fees, no withdrawal fees and a very low spread - a fee often hidden by crypto exchanges.

UK users can make GBP deposits and withdrawals without incurring any sort of charge. Trading on CoinJar comes with a small percentage fee, which is slightly higher if you purchase crypto using its Instant Buy option.

When it comes to trading on the CoinJar Exchange, both its taker and maker fees are kept comparatively low. Plus, the more you trade, the lower the fee. CoinJar also offers value to customers in other ways. For example, its crypto debit card allows users to spend their digital assets as well as earn CoinJar Rewards. CoinJar Cryptocurrency Exchange markets interface

Pros
  • Registered as a crypto-asset firm with the UK's FCA
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees
  • Simple and easy-to-use platform
  • Instant card payments
  • Crypto debit card with rewards
Cons
  • Limited services for active trading
  • Wait time for withdrawals
Deposit methods Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, SEPA, Faster Payments (FPS), Apple Pay, Google Pay
Deposit fees Cryptocurrency: Free
FPS: Free
Visa / Mastercard purchase: Free (2% for Instant Buy)
Apple Pay / Google Pay purchase (Instant Buy): 2%
Withdrawal fees Bank transfer: Free
Cryptocurrency: Free
Trading fees Maker: 0.02-0.10%
Taker: 0.06-0.10%

3. eToro: Best for beginners & instant purchases

eToro UK
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Capital at risk

eToro UK

4.2★★★★★
Finder score
100+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

eToro uses its experience as an investing platform to make things easy for crypto newbies. This is why it won both the 2023 Finder Award for Beginners and the Finder Award for Instant Purchases. Its beginner-friendly interface makes buying and selling crypto quick and simple for someone just starting out.

eToro pioneered the concept of copy trading back in 2010. This feature allows you to view and mirror trades made by experienced investors. Getting started is easy – simply choose a trader you want to copy and then set your account to follow their trading moves.

With a minimum of US$200, you can automatically repeat trades from some of eToro's top-performing crypto traders. There is no additional fee charged for this service.

Meanwhile, if you want to try before you buy, you can practice with $100,000 using eToro's virtual portfolio. This allows you to learn about the market and hone your trading skills before doing it for real. eToro UK markets interface

Pros
  • Unique copy trading feature
  • Trades UK and international stocks
  • Tiered membership options for advanced traders
  • Registered as a crypto asset firm with the UK FCA
Cons
  • Picking the right trader to copy can be difficult
  • Foreign exchange fees on GBP deposits
  • Higher spreads than other exchanges
Deposit methods Bank transfer, Credit card, Debit card, eToro Money
Deposit fees Free
Withdrawal fees $5 (min. withdrawal $30)
Trading fees 1% plus spread

4. Crypto.com: Best exchange for altcoins

Crypto.com App
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Capital at risk

Crypto.com App

4.6★★★★★
Finder score
290+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

Crypto.com has one of the largest lists of cryptocurrencies available to Brits and is the 2023 Finder Award winner for Altcoins. It has over 250 cryptocurrencies on offer and is constantly looking to expand its offering with new coins.

If you're looking for something a little more obscure, Crypto.com will have you covered. It has an extensive range of novel coins and tokens and keeps you updated on the coins launching in the market. Head to its Coin Launches page and you'll be able to find out about the latest offerings.

Crypto.com is more than just the variety of coins it has on offer. As the 2023 Finder Award winner for Extra Features, it offers useful services to its 80 million customers worldwide. For example, you can get a crypto card, explore its NFT marketplace or set up your own DeFi wallet. Crypto.com App markets interface

Pros
  • Buy and sell 200+ cryptocurrencies
  • Clean, user-friendly mobile app
  • Supports recurring purchases
  • Earn passive income on your cryptocurrency
  • Registered as a crypto asset firm with the UK FCA
Cons
  • Staking CRO is required for the highest-yield rewards
  • Fees are higher than some competitors
  • Poorly rated customer service on Trustpilot
Deposit methods Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, SEPA, Faster Payments (FPS), Apple Pay, Google Pay
Deposit fees Free
Withdrawal fees Cryptocurrency: Fees vary
Trading fees Maker: 0.00-0.75%
Taker: 0.05-0.75%

5. Revolut: Best all-in-one finance app

Revolut
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Capital at risk

Revolut

4.2★★★★★
Finder score
170+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

Revolut is steadily becoming a one-stop shop for all things crypto. Since it was accepted into the FCA's full register of crypto asset firms, we've seen a series of new features such as the introduction of a crypto debit card and crypto staking.

The user-friendly digital app marries its current account services with its cryptocurrency features to create a seamless user experience. Customers can buy, hold and exchange 90+ cryptocurrencies in-app within seconds. Using funds from your Revolut e-money account, you can start investing almost immediately.

From the app, you will be able to choose which cryptocurrencies to invest in, set up recurring buys, send crypto to other Revolut users and take advantage of performance analytics to help you understand how your portfolio is performing. You can add a crypto spending mode to your existing Revolut prepaid card, which allows you to pay for purchases with instantly converted tokens.

Revolut also has a series of Learn and Earn modules to teach crypto basics to beginners. If you pass the quiz, you will receive a small amount of DOT, 1INCH or AVAX coins as a reward. Plus, you can now stake certain tokens to earn rewards on your cryptocurrency. Revolut markets interface

Pros
  • Educational resources
  • Earn free crypto
  • Swap multiple fiat currencies for crypto and vice versa
  • Registered as a crypto asset firm with the UK FCA
Cons
  • Higher transaction fees than dedicated crypto exchanges
  • Limited number of supported coins
Deposit methods Bank transfer, Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Deposit fees Free
Withdrawal fees Fees vary, from £1
Trading fees 0.49% (Ultra plan), 0.99% (Premium or Metal plans), 1.49%/min. fee of £1.49 (Standard or Plus plans) plus spread
Revolut X - 0% maker fees, 0.09% taker fees

6. Gemini: Best exchange for NFTs

Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange
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Capital at risk

Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange

4★★★★★
Finder score
100+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

Gemini has an in-house NFT marketplace, which is why it's our pick for the best exchange for NFTs. Nifty Gateway is one of the biggest NFT marketplaces in the world, best known for launching NFT collections by famous musicians.

Nifty Gateway provides an accessible way to buy, sell and store NFTs. It's a custodial platform, which means all the NFTs are stored in a secured wallet powered by Gemini's security technology. It also provides access to a good variety of popular collections, including CloneX.

Most NFT platforms require customers to pay in Ethereum, which can introduce crippling network or gas fees. But through Nifty Gateway, you can use your Gemini balance to purchase your chosen NFT, taking away the hassle of signing transactions and calculating gas fees. Nifty Gateway also covers gas fees when minting, buying and listing an NFT for sale. Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange markets interface

Pros
  • In-house NFT marketplace
  • No gas fees for buying or minting
  • Fiat and cryptocurrency accepted
  • Registered as a crypto asset firm with the UK FCA
Cons
  • Experienced an NFT heist in March 2021
  • Heavy backlog in creator applications
Deposit methods Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT
Deposit fees Crypto: None
Wire transfer: determined by your bank
Debit card: 3.49%
Withdrawal fees None (for 10 withdrawals and below per month)
Trading fees ActiveTrader:
Taker fee - 0.03-0.4%
Maker fee - 0-0.2%

7. Uphold: Best for a debit card

Uphold
Go to site Read review
Capital at risk

Uphold

3.5★★★★★
Finder score
280+
Supported cryptos

Deposit fees

Uphold offers a seamless user experience and a straightforward fee structure. On top of that, it has several exciting features like it’s debit card.

The card lets you spend crypto, national currencies and commodities wherever Mastercard is accepted. On top of this, you can benefit from 0% foreign transaction fees and low exchange rates. Making the Uphold card the perfect travel companion.

The ability to use crypto or national currencies gives you flexibility and freedom. You can also track your spending with real-time analytics. And if for some reason your card is misplaced, you can freeze your card using the app. Uphold markets interface

Pros
  • Access the value of your assets easily
  • Switching funding sources as often as you like
  • No fiat deposit/withdrawal fees
  • No foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Likely to pay a spread if funding source is not the same
  • Crypto withdrawal fees unclear
  • Prices not locked in pre-trade
  • Cash withdrawals at ATMs incur a fee
Deposit methods Bank transfer (ACH), Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Deposit fees Free
Withdrawal fees Debit card: 1.75% (min. £1)
Apple Pay/Google Pay: Free
Bank (FPS, SEPA): Free
+ Fee equivalent to $0.99 on selected blockchain networks
+ Fee equivalent to $0.99 on selected smaller trades (under $500)
Trading fees 0.25%-2.95%
Spreads also apply

Full list of UK registered crypto exchanges

ExchangeDate it joined the register
GeminiAugust 2020
ZigluSeptember 2020
SolidiJuly 2021
CoinpassAugust 2021
CoinJarSeptember 2021
Kraken (Payward Ltd)November 2021
ZumoDecember 2021
eToroJanuary 2022
UpholdFebruary 2022
Crypto.com (Foris Dax UK Ltd)August 2022
RevolutSeptember 2022
BitstampJune 2023

Is it completely legal to purchase cryptocurrency in the UK. There are hundreds of different crypto coins you can invest in. The most common way to do this is through a cryptocurrency exchange like the ones listed in this guide.

How is crypto taxed in the UK

If you’ve made a gain on your crypto, the taxman will want a slice. Like other income or capital gains, you’ll have to pay tax on your crypto if you go over your tax-free allowance. And unfortunately, there is no “crypto ISA” just yet.

How much tax you’ll pay depends on the type of crypto gains or income and other gains you’ve made during the same tax year.

For a full breakdown of how crypto is taxed in the UK, take a look at our crypto tax rules in the UK explained guide.

Which cryptocurrencies are banned in the UK?

As cryptocurrency isn’t regulated, there are no outright bans on cryptocurrencies. However, the FCA has issued some guidance to exchanges to delist certain privacy coins like Monero (XMR).

Privacy coins have a specific focus on encryption and offer a higher level of anonymity. As a result, they are frequently used in money-laundering activities.

Any crypto exchange registered with the FCA has to adhere to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules, so is unlikely to list a coin like Monero.

Bottom line

The cryptocurrency market is often considered the wild west of investing. While there is no regulation as yet, choosing a UK registered exchange means that you know it’s committed to certain guidelines and rules around money laundering. However, don’t mistake that for it having the other protections you’d get with regulated services.

Not all crypto exchange are created equal and not everyone wants the same thing. When comparing a UK registered exchange, make sure you do your own research.

Read our reviews to compare features, fees, pros and cons of each platform and think about whether they match your crypto investing ambitions.

Frequently asked questions

*Cryptocurrencies aren't regulated in the UK and there's no protection from the Financial Ombudsman or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Your capital is at risk. Capital gains tax on profits may apply.

Cryptocurrencies are speculative and investing in them involves significant risks - they're highly volatile, vulnerable to hacking and sensitive to secondary activity. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This content shouldn't be interpreted as a recommendation to invest. Before you invest, you should get advice and decide whether the potential return outweighs the risks. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

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Editor

Kate Steere is an editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, banking and cryptocurrency. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run. See full bio

Kate's expertise
Kate has written 179 Finder guides across topics including:
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